U.S. patent application number 11/397127 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-19 for information processing apparatus and method of controlling the same.
Invention is credited to Akio Sakai.
Application Number | 20060233428 11/397127 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37108522 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060233428 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sakai; Akio |
October 19, 2006 |
Information processing apparatus and method of controlling the
same
Abstract
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus
includes an HDD, a fingerprint sensor, and a CPU or a BIOS-ROM
which monitors a communication state between a program stored
therein and the fingerprint sensor. If it is determined that the
communication state is abnormal, power to the fingerprint sensor is
shut off.
Inventors: |
Sakai; Akio; (Hamura-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
37108522 |
Appl. No.: |
11/397127 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
382/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 21/554 20130101;
G06F 21/55 20130101; G06F 21/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
382/124 |
International
Class: |
G06K 9/00 20060101
G06K009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 18, 2005 |
JP |
2005-120399 |
Claims
1. An information processing apparatus comprising: internal storage
means; a fingerprint sensor which detects a fingerprint image; and
monitoring control means for monitoring a communication state
between a program stored in the internal storage means and the
fingerprint sensor, wherein the monitoring control means shuts off
power to the fingerprint sensor if the monitoring control means
determines that the communication state is abnormal.
2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the fingerprint sensor has overcurrent detecting means, and
the monitoring control means shuts off the power to the fingerprint
sensor if the overcurrent detecting means detects abnormality.
3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein the program is an application and/or a BIOS program stored
in the internal storage means.
4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
further comprising: indication means for indicating information
from the monitoring control means, wherein the indication means
indicates an abnormal state if the monitoring control means detects
abnormality.
5. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
further comprising: indication means for indicating information
from the monitoring control means, wherein the indication means
indicates an abnormal state if the monitoring control means detects
abnormality.
6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein if the power to the fingerprint sensor is shut off by the
monitoring control means, the monitoring control means starts the
fingerprint sensor if the monitoring control means determines that
detection information from the overcurrent detecting means and the
communication state are normal.
7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein if the power to the fingerprint sensor is shut off by the
monitoring control means, the monitoring control means starts the
fingerprint sensor if the monitoring control means determines that
detection information from the overcurrent detecting means and the
communication state are normal.
8. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus
comprising internal storage means and a fingerprint sensor which
detects a fingerprint image, the method comprising: a monitoring
control monitoring a communication state between a program stored
in the internal storage means and the fingerprint sensor; and a
power control shutting off power to the fingerprint sensor if it is
determined in the monitoring control that the communication state
is abnormal.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the fingerprint sensor
has overcurrent detecting means, and the power to the fingerprint
sensor is shut off if the overcurrent detecting means detects
abnormality.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-120399, filed
Apr. 18, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] One embodiment of the present invention relates to an
information processing apparatus and a method of controlling the
same, which can properly shut off power to a fingerprint sensor if
abnormal conditions occur in the fingerprint sensor or in a
communication state with the fingerprint sensor.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Prior art provides a countermeasure against abnormality of a
fingerprint sensor, in which the power supply is monitored by an
abnormality detecting section in a fingerprint data generating
apparatus, and abnormal conditions of voltage are determined as
abnormal conditions of the fingerprint data generating apparatus
(refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Pub. No. 2004-192456).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A general architecture that implements the various feature
of the invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided
to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the
scope of the invention.
[0007] FIG. 1 is an external view of a notebook computer being an
information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system
configuration of the computer.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling
information processing to which information processing according to
the present invention is applied.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the method of controlling
information processing based on a signal from an overcurrent
detecting circuit of the fingerprint sensor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Various embodiments according to the invention will be
described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, an aspect
of the present invention is an information processing apparatus
comprising: internal storage means; a fingerprint sensor which
detects a fingerprint image; and monitoring control means for
monitoring a communication state between a program stored in the
internal storage means and the fingerprint sensor, wherein the
monitoring control means shuts off power to the fingerprint sensor
if the monitoring control means determines that the communication
state is abnormal.
[0012] An embodiment of the present invention is explained below
with reference to drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 is an external view of a notebook computer being an
information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, computer 10 comprises a computer main
body and a display unit 12. A display device formed of an LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display) is incorporated into the display unit 12.
A display screen 121 of the LCD is positioned in almost the center
of the display unit 12.
[0015] The display unit 12 is attached to the computer 10 such that
the display unit 12 is rotatable between an open position and a
closed position. The main body of the computer 10 has a thin
box-shaped housing. On a top surface of the housing, provided are a
power button 114, an LED indicator (indication means) 220 and a
keyboard 111. Further, on a palm rest on the top surface of the
housing, provided are a touch pad 112, a left and a right buttons
113a and 113b, and a fingerprint sensor 21, etc.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system
configuration of the computer 10.
[0017] The computer 10 comprises a CPU 201, a chip set 202, a main
memory 203, a graphics controller 204, a dedicated bus 1, an I/O
controller 207, an LPC bus 2, a hard disk drive (HDD) 208, a CD/DVD
drive 209, a BIOS-ROM 210, an embedded controller/keyboard
controller IC (EC/KBC) 211, an OR circuit 222, a power supply
switch (SW) 214, the fingerprint sensor 21, and a fingerprint
sensor initializing circuit 223, etc.
[0018] The CPU 201 is a processor provided to control operation of
the computer 10. The CPU 201 runs an operating system (operation
system) and an application program/utility program loaded from the
hard disk drive (HDD) 20 into the main memory 203. Further, the CPU
201 also executes a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) stored in the
BIOS-ROM 210. The fingerprint sensor 21 has an overcurrent
detecting circuit which detects overcurrent. Fingerprint
authentication by the fingerprint sensor 21 is performed by a
dedicated application and the like.
[0019] The chip set 202 is a bridge device which establishes a
bi-directional connection between a local bus of the CPU 201 and
the dedicated bus 1. The graphics controller 204 controls the
display screen (display means) 121 of the LCD used as a display
monitor of the computer 10. The I/O controller 207 is a PCI device,
and includes an IDE controller which controls the hard disk drive
(HDD) 208 and the CD/DVD drive 209, and the like.
[0020] The embedded controller/keyboard controller IC (EC/KBC) 211
is a one-chip microcomputer formed by integrating an embedded
controller for electric power control and a keyboard controller
which controls the keyboard 111. The embedded controller/keyboard
controller IC (EC/KBC) 211 has a function of powering on and off
the computer 10 in response to the operation of the power button
114 by the user, in cooperation with the power supply switch
214.
[0021] The OR circuit 222 receives a signal (for example, a signal
H is outputted in the case of abnormal conditions, and a signal L
in the case of normal conditions) from the overcurrent detecting
circuit 21a of the fingerprint sensor 21 and a communication state
abnormal signal (for example, a signal H is outputted in the case
of abnormal conditions, and a signal L in the case of normal
conditions) from control monitoring means and, if one of the
signals indicates an abnormal condition, outputs a signal (power
shutoff signal) to shut off the power to the fingerprint sensor 21
by the power supply switch 214. The control monitoring means is an
application stored in the HDD 208 or the like or a BIOS program
stored in the BIOS-ROM 210, and performs communications with the
fingerprint sensor 21 through a USB, for example. As the hardware,
the control monitoring means corresponds to the CPU 201, the
BIOS-ROM 210, the chip set 202 and the main memory 203.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling
information processing to which information processing according to
the present invention is applied.
[0023] The CPU 201 monitors the communication state with the
fingerprint sensor 21 through the chip set 202. In step S10, the
CPU 201 determines whether communication with the fingerprint
sensor 21 is possible (whether the communication state is normal).
If it is determined in step S10 that the communication is
impossible, the CPU 201 instructs in step S12 the EC/KBC 211 to
issue an H output signal (communication state abnormal signal) to
an output pin thereof. In step S14, the OR circuit 222 receives the
H output signal, and shuts off the power to the fingerprint sensor
21 by the power supply SW 214. After the power supply to the
fingerprint sensor 21 is shut off and a predetermined period of
time has passed, the CPU 201 instructs in step S15 the EC/KBC 211
to issue an L output signal (communication state normal signal) to
the output pin of the EC/KBC 211. In response to the L output
signal, the OR circuit 222 turns on the power to the fingerprint
sensor 21 by using the power supply SW 214. Next, in step S16, the
computer 10 reboots. Then, in step S18, the CPU 201 determines
again whether communication with the fingerprint sensor 21 is
possible (whether the communication state is normal). In response
to a power-on signal, the fingerprint sensor initializing circuit
223 initializes and starts the fingerprint sensor 21.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the method of controlling
information processing based on a signal from the overcurrent
detecting circuit 21a of the fingerprint sensor 21.
[0025] In step S30, if the overcurrent detecting circuit 21a of the
fingerprint sensor 21 detects an overcurrent (or abnormality in
circuit), the overcurrent detecting circuit 21a transmits an H
output (overcurrent detection) signal to the EC/KBC 211.
Thereafter, the apparatus goes to the step S14, and shuts off the
power to the fingerprint sensor 21 in the same manner as the above
processing. To enhance safety, the OR circuit 222 is set to shut
off the power to the fingerprint sensor 21 by the power SW 214, if
it receives an H output signal being a signal indicating an
abnormal communication state from one of the EC/KBC211 and the
overcurrent detecting circuit 21a of the fingerprint sensor 21. As
a matter of course, it may be set to shut off the power to the
fingerprint sensor 21 in response to H output signals from both the
EC/KBC 211 and the overcurrent detecting circuit 21a of the
fingerprint sensor 21. Further, the OR circuit is set to turn on
the power to the fingerprint sensor 21 when it receives L output
signals (normal signal) from both the EC/KBC 211 and the
overcurrent detecting circuit 21a of the fingerprint sensor 21, to
enhance safety. However, as a matter of course, it is possible to
provide a setting of turning on the power to the fingerprint sensor
21 in response to an L output signal from one of the EC/KBC 211 and
the overcurrent detecting circuit 21a of the fingerprint sensor
21.
[0026] In the processing of shutting off the power to the
fingerprint sensor 21, the CPU 201 can make the LED indicator 220
being indication means illuminate (or blink) with a red light, for
example, or display a notice of an abnormal state of the
fingerprint sensor 21 on the LCE display screen 121.
[0027] According to the above structure, it is possible to safely
shut off the fingerprint sensor, even if an overcurrent is detected
in hardware or circuit abnormality occurs, and it is possible to
provide a system with a high reliability.
[0028] While certain embodiments of the inventions have been
described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example
only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions.
Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be
embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various
omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and
systems described herein may be made without departing from the
spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their
equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as
would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
* * * * *